IT’S IN HIS SMILE (RED RIVER VALLEY #3) returns us to Red River Valley and the characters we’ve met before. It’s nice to catch up with them as well as meet new characters that add to the color and flavor of the town. Talmadge’s smile is killer, but so are other parts of him!

Alexander’s IT’S IN HIS SMILE has secrets that overshadow a lot of the story being told. Talmadge is having problems with his company and development that he left back in Seattle. He’s come home upon the death of his beloved grandmother, Bea. Miranda and Bea had a special bond, and she’s bereft now that Bea’s gone. Miranda and Talmadge haven’t seen each other in seven years plus months and days–that Miranda keeps track of–but their chemistry is still there.

Watching them struggle in their friendship and fight their attraction was often hearbreaking since Talmadge has a lot on his plate and a lot of people depending on him. His life is in Seattle. Miranda’s is in New Mexico since she’s planning to reopen his grandmother’s inn, which she’d purchased before his grandmother’s death with plans to renovate it together. Her crooked contractor has fled, her money is dwindling, and she doesn’t want to accept help from Talmadge or anyone else. But that’s too bad since Talmadge’s inheritance is dependent on the inn. He’s going to help and recruits others to do so as well.

When they are not fighting each other, Miranda and Talmadge have a lot going for them. They can make each other’s lives easier if the other will let them. Will love win out in the end?

Amidst an inn to renovate and a gazebo and rec center to build, Alexander throws antagonism and hurt, laughter and romance our way. The descriptions of the mountains, the town, the businesses and friendships made me feel like I was there. The story wrapped up nicely. I hope we get to return to Red River Valley at least twice more since there are more stories to tell. Langston, Talmadge’s best friend, and Jamie, Miranda’s brother, each need their own happily ever afters!

Alexander is a fairly new-to-me author and I look forward to reading more books in her RED RIVER VALLEY SERIES. I missed IT’S IN HIS TOUCH, book two in the series, but did read the first book, IT’S IN HIS HEART. I have some catching up to do! Red River Valley is reminiscent of Susan Mallery’s Fool’s Gold Series and Jill Shalvis’s Lucky Harbor.

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It's In His Smile by Shelly Alexander
“second chances and lies, 4 stars”

It’s In His Smile is about Talmadge and Miranda. They have two things in common, they’re from the same town, and they both loved Bea. Bea was Talmadge’s grandmother and Miranda’s mentor and friend. Other then that shes a goody too shoes and he’s a architect playboy. Only seven years prior they had a one night stand. Miranda doesn’t want a second go and thats all Talmadge can think about.
Miranda is extremely up tight. Her mother was the town you know what. So instead of being like her mother and loving every guy she avoids relationships. She doesn’t want to live a life based on her mothers sins. Miranda is in the middle of trying to get her Inn running, she doesn't need a man. She's trying to raise her brother, who is now an adult whether she likes it or not. She just wants people to take her seriously and respect her.
Talmadge is a hot mess when he comes into town to lay his grandmother to rest. They say bad things happen in threes and that is definitely the case for Talmadge. He doesn't know what he wants anymore. At Bea's will reading he finds out that all the money he sent home for years she never touched. Leaving his financially ruined butt saved, only there are clauses he was never expecting. The only way to get the money is to decieve Miranda.
But what happens when you stop faking it and open yourself uppossibilitie? Never play with fire unless you’re willing to get burned.
Talmadge and Miranda’s friendship turn love story was sweet and easy if you take away Talmadge’s lurking secrets. It’s In His Smile is a good book but I don’t know if I would read it again. It just never pulled me in, I couldn’t get sucked into the story. But if you like sweet stories with a little s*x then this could be the book for you. Here are a couple lines from the book that stuck to me;
“Needing help and being needy are two very different things, Miranda.”
“I feel like I’m jumping off a cliff. In a good way, but still plunging over this unknown mountain and you’ve agreed to follow me over.”
“Being with him, waking up with him just seemed perfect and natural. And right.”
Plot-4/5
Character- 4/5
Heat-3/5
Writing style-4/5
Overall- 4/5
**I was given an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. SBR**

I have given It's In His Eyes 5 feel good stars.

Now I am terrible at judging a book by it's cover and I am ashamed to say that this has been sat on my kindle for a while now because I couldn't bring myself to read it. The cover just doesn't appeal to me at all and after reading the book, I can now say it does not reflect the book or do it any justice at all.

Once I started reading it, to say I was pleasantly surprised would be an understatement. I was hooked by the end of the first chapter. Shelly Alexander has an amazing writing style that captivates the reader attention throughout this feel good romance.

Normally I don't like the kind of books that leave you dewy eyed and warm and fuzzy inside but there was just something about this book that seemed to appeal to the hidden romantic inside of me. Sometimes we all just something a little bit charming and lovely to make us feel good.
As I am new to this author, I wasn't quite sure what to expect but like I have previously mentioned her style of writing is truly captivating. It was filled with love, romance, sweet and tenderness and a little bit of drama to keep the sweet from being too much.

This may be my first book by this author but it certainly won't be my last.